(CARICOM Secretariat Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has moved to ensure urgent implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with the European Community (EC).

In keeping with the directive of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, the Secretariat has established a Unit to coordinate the implementation of the Agreement which was signed in October last year by the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the EC. Provisional application of the EPA became effective on December 29, 2008.

The Unit is headed by Mr. Branford Isaacs, Adviser to the Secretary-General on EPA Implementation, and Specialist on Trade in Goods, and began its work on Monday 16 February 2009. The Unit will be served by a core group of Specialists in the areas of Trade in Goods, Trade in Services and Investment, and a Legal Officer. In addition, where specialized expertise is required, short-term consultants will be recruited. The Unit will also be collaborating with relevant regional public and private sector organizations and agencies when required.

One of the early exercises to be undertaken by the Unit will be the listing of the obligations which fall to CARIFORUM as a group and also those to be undertaken by CARIFORUM States individually. Another will be the development of a roster of contact persons to be identified by CARIFORUM States, who will liaise directly with the Implementation Unit.

The Implementation Unit will provide in-country hands-on assistance and model legislation to give effect to some of the obligations.

At his desk on Tuesday at the CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Isaacs indicated that action on the part of the Member States and the Region was “more than urgent’, given the fact that CARIFORUM States had obligations which required action on 1 January 2009 and that CARIFORUM as a whole was required to be ready to participate in institutions of the EPA by mid-April 2009.

Mr. Isaacs reported that the CARICOM Secretariat had received “positive signals” from the international development partners for aid for trade resources to assist with the implementation of the provisions of the EPA including to meet the operating cost of the Unit.

The Secretariat intends to report to the Organs of the Community on the establishment of the Implementation Unit at meetings scheduled in the next fortnight.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org